2014 Oscar Nominations Announced – Were There Any Surprises?

Acclaimed films 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle took home big prizes at the 2014 Golden Globes ceremony this past Sunday, while actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett were recognized for their performances in 2013. However, the Oscars don’t split up nominees into different genre categories (drama and comedy/musical), so it remains to be seen which of these films/stars will be crowned at this year’s ceremony.

The nominations for the 86th Academy Awards were announced this morning by actor Chris Hemsworth (Thor: The Dark World, Rush) – in keeping with the “heroes'” theme this year for the ceremony (don’t ask) – and Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

You can read through the full list of 2014 Oscar nominations below.

‘American Hustle’ – nominated for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and More

“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen
“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
“Her” Written by Spike Jonze
“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

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There weren’t too many big surprises this year, though it was a bit surprising to see Dallas Buyers Club get so much love while the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis was shutout for the top prizes this year. Additionally, Tom Hanks not being recognized for either of his well-received portrayals of real-life people this past year (including, in the Best Picture-nominated Captain Phillips) may’ve caught a number of Oscar predictors off-guard; in fairness, though, it’s not as though he’s under-appreciated by the Academy.

Similarly, buzzed-about documentary Blackfish was (unfortunately) not recognized, while such underdog candidates as Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) and Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) did not receive nominations for their lauded performances in 2013. Facing such traditionally Academy-favorite competition like Meryl Streep and Christian Bale, though, that was to be expected.